Just Sharing My Journey
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This year, when picking out plants and sowing seeds, I thought I’d better plant more perennials. Next year, I might not be as agile, I mused. The aches and pains of movement are more noticeable now.
My Neighbor:
My neighbor had a mini-stroke a few days ago. He’s at least a decade younger than me. His father and grandfather died in their fifties. He seems resigned to the same possible fate.
He’s had a tough row to hoe. The war in Afghanistan resulted in PTSD, along with the aftereffects of nerve gas. I sometimes drive him where he needs to go, because he has bouts of dizziness and other medical concerns.
I can’t imagine the unspeakable things he carries around in his head. Sometimes he tells me about it. And though I can’t see what he sees, I do see the damage wrought by his having witnessed and experienced it.
I know nothing about war. What little I know could fit into a thimble.
An ambulance came to take him to the hospital. They didn’t have the siren on, so I didn’t hear anything amiss. He said he was waiting on the porch for them. His wife was at work that evening.
His side had been going numb, he told the doctor. They’re sending him to a neurologist for further investigative testing. I hope things improve for him. He carries a profound sorrow in his head that civilians like me can’t begin to comprehend.
I wonder if it’s like trying to fight your way out of a vast spider’s web. The film clings to the skin and stretches instead of snapping. An invisible enemy that you can’t escape from.
Picking out Perennials:
This year, when picking out plants, I turned first to the nursery’s perennial section. I labored over what color Monarda flowers to buy. Those little tight-fisted blooms with spidery legs.
I chose coneflowers (again). It seems that no matter what I do, they die in the containers during the winter. But I’m trying again. Bright pink coneflowers that I hope will brighten everyone’s day as they pass by my house.
I thought of the W.C. Fields quote: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no use being a damn fool about it.”
I guess I’m being a damn fool about it.
I chose Veronica for its spiky blooms. It’s also called Speedwell. But I like Veronica’s feminine-sounding name, which kind of flutters through the lips, better.
I chose the herbaceous Achillea, more commonly called Yarrow. I chose pots with yellow and pink blooms. These plants spread through rhizomes and will hopefully return next year.
Annuals
I turned to the petunias like I always do. They had fanciful names like “strawberry sky.” I picked dahlias with beautiful pink layers on every bloom. And purple spotted petunias that I couldn’t resist.
I love taking pictures of flowers and plants. It is always my intention to capture the woolly texture of a geranium leaf. Or the funnel-shaped petunia as it trails and cascades over the side of containers. I want you to see what I see.
Then I woke up to a windy chill a few days ago. The weather had shifted overnight, and the new plants I’d purchased were being whipped around in the wind.
Yesterday, I moved the pots of perennials and the remaining annuals I hadn’t yet planted to the porch. The weather is supposed to improve in a few days, rising out of the sixties and back into the eighties.
In a few days, I’ll get everything planted. My container garden will be full of pink, purple, yellow, and white blooms. I’ll nurture them during the summer months and enjoy their seasonal journey in my container garden.
Sitting on the porch, I’ll watch the pollinators buzzing around the plants. I read that they’re responsible for 1 out of 3 bites of human food, including fruits and vegetables. And crops like almonds and coffee.
They’ll bring my little garden to life, dusting in golden pollen as they move with purpose among the flowers I’ve planted.
My garden will become a gathering place with the hum of bees and the flicker of wings. A soft and purposeful symphony from beginning to end.
Winter traditions and seasonal moments always bring back memories of checking a snow day calculator accurate prediction before school mornings.
Brenda- what is the last frost date in your area ? Where we are it’s not for 3 more weeks. Then we can plant .
It’s nice of you to help your neighbor out. I’m anxious to put some flower pots outside my front door, but we are still getting frost warnings here in MI. I’ve been cutting back on screen time and reading more. I chose a few titles from your book review page. The library had a book sale last weekend, so I have a new stack of possibilities on hand.
Brenda, the flowers are lovely. I love your descriptions! Also, thank you for sharing about your neighbor. I know he appreciates you so much, especially for being someone safe to talk to about his life.
Blessings.
He’s there for me, and I’m there for him.
Bless you for helping your neighbor…everyone needs neighbors like you and the ones you have there!! There are some sorrows in this world that we simply do not have words to describe as to how we feel!! So long for the world to come where there will be no more war!! And apparently no more bullies…imagine that. Hope your neighbor finds a doctor who can help him. He might consider a more “natural” sort of one. That is what we have here and he is better than most. Your flowers will be lovely I am sure, as they always have been. Good thinking to try to figure out which ones will return on their own next year. I was always impressed with those ones called pennies…and how they somehow managed to spread etc. When our son lived in Nevada where water was so scarce, we noticed that a lot of folks near him made front yards with all sorts of purple varieties of plants…mixed in with rocks of all sorts of colors and sizes. No grass. Looked stupendous.
You might be referring to golden pennies, also known as moneywort…
https://www.thespruce.com/creeping-jenny-container-plant-4125237. I have some in my container garden.
I agree with Nancy D about enjoying your upbeat posts about your plants, cats, and decorating. I am also loving when your readers kindly have good well wishes for those in need. Our homes are our sanctuary and I have gotten very picky about what news and information comes in through the media. Thank you and your circle of friends on your blog who make things pleasant here. Have a wonderful evening all!
There’s a lot of hate and meanness in the world right now.
I’m so sorry to hear about your neighbor. Sending prayers for a full and speedy recovery.
I look forward to seeing your garden in full bloom. You always have the most stunning gardens.
I managed to get the rest planted yesterday evening.
Brenda, you describe your future garden so well I could actually see the bees and butterflies in my mind! I have finished planting the different flowering plants and bushes in my “girls garden” this is where 2 of my most loved and faithful dogs are buried. I wanted it to be beautiful for them. It stretches the entire length of my back yard. A lot to take care of! The winter ice storm took out numerous bushes and plants so I’ve been replacing those. We finally got some much needed rain here in TN so things are much happier. Today it’s a bit chilly out with the next few days being below normal. If there’s even a normal left!
I hope your neighbor will be fine and he can find some peace from the PTSD. My husband was in the first Iraq operation when he was in the Air Force. It was so scary. Please tell your neighbor THANK YOU so much for your service.
I will tell him. It sounds like you have a beautiful “girls garden” to look out on and tend.
Hey Brenda, I was thinking of your coneflowers in pots. The roots may be freezing in winter if it’s been really cold. Perhaps wrapping the pot itself in bubble wrap might help to protect it?
I hope things go well for your neighbor….I can’t imagine the horrors that our veterans have witnessed.
Enjoy your day! 😉
I should probably do that. Thanks for the suggestion!
Your plants are gorgeous. I always enjoy when you post your garden. I’m so sorry about your neighbor. A very dear friend of mine had a stroke last week. She’s in an excellent rehab facility, her left side went numb. Her personality is triple A, which probably contributed to her stroke….sending prayers for your neighbor …… take care, i love reading your positive posts….
I will keep your friend in my thoughts.